Obby Khan announces his retirement from the Bombers on April 25, 2012. (file image)

The Canadian Press
Published Tuesday, August 14, 2012 3:13PM CST

CALGARY -- Obby Khan's CFL retirement didn't last very long.

Less than four months after calling it quits, the former Winnipeg Blue Bombers centre returned to the CFL, signing with the Calgary Stampeders on Tuesday.

And former Bombers linemate Glenn January isn't surprised.

"Not really," January said. "I think that he still felt like he could play and an opportunity opened up for him so I'm not very surprised at all."

The 31-year-old Khan announced his retirement in April after eight CFL seasons. He had spent six years with Winnipeg and reportedly hung up his cleats upon being told by the Bombers they wanted to go with more youth on their offensive line.

January refused to get drawn into any speculation on whether the struggling Bombers (1-5) could use Khan's services.

"That's not really my decision to make," he said. "We've got a very good unit in that room now.

"We're a young unit but we've shown progress over the course of the season."

January and Steve Morley are the only real CFL veterans left on the line.

Khan, a six-foot-three, 300-pound Ottawa native, played 118 games over eight CFL seasons with the Bombers and Ottawa Renegades. His time in Winnipeg included comebacks after illness and surgeries because of Crohn's disease.

He was Winnipeg's nominee for the CFL's outstanding lineman award in 2006 and had planned to open a restaurant in the city but it has reportedly been delayed.

The Stampeders have also added import offensive lineman Richard Muldrow to the practice roster.

Winnipeg head coach Paul LaPolice said he didn't know anything about a report that Khan offered his services first to the Bombers but said they didn't have any room for him on the roster.

"Everybody's trying to find those next guys and I know Calgary took another hit on their offensive line last week," he said. "I think as the season wears on people are trying to find Canadians and certainly he was an experienced guy."